PreschoolPreK-4
Our 4s program uses an assessment tool to pinpoint each student’s strengths and needs. The 4s program is more academic than what our children experienced in their 2s and 3s classrooms and builds on their experiences in the 2s and 3s programs. We use an evidence-based program designed by Boston Public Schools and modified to fit our setting in Baltimore called Focus on PreK.
The 4s program uses their Focus on 4s curriculum, which is additionally supplemented by Heggerty’s Phonemic Awareness program in literacy and Singapore Dimensions Math PreK B in mathematics. This allows for all domains and areas of learning to be aligned and integrated while providing a specific scope and sequence of skills in literacy and math to better assess student learning and progress. We focus on letter recognition and sounds, numbers and mathematical and science concepts as well as the use of technology.
We recognize that not all children learn at the same pace, which is why our assessment tools and small classroom size are important. The teacher helps children individually, providing what each needs based on their prior knowledge, current readiness, and experiences.
Curriculum
To ensure that each student is ready when it’s time to enter our kindergarten, the teachers use a proven curriculum in combination with a developmental screening tool used twice annually to assess milestone progress and learning related to language skills, cognitive skills, motor skills, self-help skills and social-emotional skills.
This tool, Brigance, is recommended as a developmental screening tool by MSDE and gives our teachers the information they need to work effectively with each child one-on-one.
They continue their year-long focus on the key areas including: reading and literacy, math, science and social-emotional skills.
Language Arts
The work done through the read-alouds, story-telling, and Heggerty’s Phonemic Awareness program emphasize early reading and writing, phonics, print, and writing concepts, helping our 4s develop foundational literacy skills.
They will learn to recognize the sounds they hear. They will refine good reading habits by looking at a book front to back and left to right. Through reading aloud and discussing the literature, children’s comprehension skills are enhanced.
Mathematics
Children gain a concrete understanding of early mathematical computation and concepts through activities in geometry, sorting, quantifying, predicting, and identifying and creating patterns. Hands-on manipulatives solidify these concepts following the skill progression outlined in Singapore Dimensions Math PreK program.
Science
Science concepts are introduced through observations about weather, life cycles of animals and insects, baking science and ecosystems. Hands-on manipulatives solidify these concepts. Particular unit examples include plants and gardens, food and markets, and seasons.
Social Studies
Children learn to be a part of a classroom community and have time to share their experiences through morning circle time. Particular unit examples include people and places in my neighborhood, families, under construction, and people on the move.
Additional Studies
Preschool students develop their gross motor skills through outdoor recess activities as well as indoor yoga and dancing. The students have daily outdoor time, weather permitting. Fine motor skills are also developed through transfer activities in art projects and classroom games.
Class Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:20-8:45 | Arrival/Playtime |
| 8:45-8:50 | Cleanup |
| 8:50-9:00 | Bathroom Break/Washing Hands |
| 9:00-9:25 | Breakfast |
| 9:25-9:40 | Writing Time/Handwriting Practice |
| 9:40-10:00 | Circle Time/Movement Break |
| 10:00-10:30 | Art |
| 10:30-11:15 | Centers |
| 11:15-11:45 | Outdoor Playtime/Playground |
| 11:45-12:00 | Bathroom Break/Washing Hands |
| 12:00-12:30 | Lunch |
| 12:30-3:00 | Nap Time |
| 3:00-3:15 | Snack |
| 3:15-4:00 | Free Play/Reading/Dismissal |
Summer Kindergarten-Readiness Initiative
PreK is the last year of preschool and thus there is purposeful focus to ensure each child is ready for the next level of academic advancement.
PreK-4 students are evaluated throughout the program to measure their preparedness for a successful transition to kindergarten.
They continue their year-long focus on the key areas including: reading and literacy, math, science and social-behavioral classroom skills.
Each week includes daily lessons on a specific theme, at-home activities, science experiments and kinesthetic activities. We also play games that help sharpen cognitive skills, such as letter identification, patterns and memory.
- Writes name, uppercase letters
- Counts to 20, knows shapes
- Draws self, knows colors
- Demonstrates pre-reading skills
- Knows positional words
“The teacher shares her love of art with her children. I know this is a skill that my child will use for the rest of her life.”
PreK-4 Parent
